National Parks & Reserves in Tana River
Kora National Park: An Outback of Tors
Surrounded and linked to Mwingi National Reserve (in the west), Meru National Park (in the northwest), Bisanadi National Reserve (in the north) and Rahole National Reserve (in the east), at the northernmost frontier of Tana River County, Kora National Park, a harsh 1,700 km2 of dense dry bushland with sweeps of grassland astride the equator, once held great numbers of elephant and rhino.
However, they were victims of the poaching wave which raged during the 1970s, at a time when poachers were killing Kenya’s elephants at the rate of at least three a day, thereafter rendering it to a massive grazing rangeland. Kora’s claim to fame is that it was the base for the last of Kenya’s great eccentrics – George Adamson. It is here that Adamson lived out his twilight years releasing lions back to the wild.
“Africa has strange tales to tell, but no greater paradox than that enacted by Adamson (also known as Baba ya Simba), for he lives in a cage and the lions lived outside it! While what he does is doubtful value for conservation, it is nonetheless something that will survive for centuries as an illustration of the unusual.”
Kora was gazetted as a game reserve in 1973 and as a national park in 1989. After George Adamson’s death in 1989, Kora National Park deteriorated fast, with little game on show, or those prepared to search for it on foot safaris. Its ecosystems were also altered by the construction of several large dams in the vicinity. Of a recent development, efforts are underway to spruce up Kora’s infrastructure.
At the present time, much the same as Rahole and Mwingi National Reserves on either side, it is without accommodation. Some of the highlights at Kora National Park include: Adamson Falls Bridge and Kora Rapids, River Tana, the Adamson camp or Kampi ya Simba, and the lofty inselbergs. The park has good parkways. The most popular activity at the park is scrambling the 400 feet rock outcrop, known as the Kora Rock, and scanning the horizon with powerful binoculars.
The rocks forming the tor-like hill mass of Kora and others hills in the area are graniloid migmatites, sometimes terminating with highly-crenulated, tessellated ends. It was near the iconic Kora Rock that in August 1989 George and two of his aides were cut down by automatic rifle fire when they happened upon poachers. The easiest way to get to Kora National Park is via Meru National Park. It’s 280 km to the north-east of Nairobi via Thika to Mwingi then north-east through Kyuso.
Kora National Park entry charges in Kes: Citizen Adult 150, Child 200; Resident Adult 250, Child 200; and Non-Resident Adult 3000, Child 2,000.
Kenya certainly has enormous touring resources. There are no less than sixty national narks, reserves and game sanctuaries, covering approximately 11% of the land surface. Each of these diverse and stunning national parks and reserves offers unique wildlife experiences and unique, breathtaking landscapes.
Index of National Parks & Reserves in Kenya
Baringo County - Lake Baringo National Reserve, Lake Bogoria National Reserve, Kerio Valley National Reserve, Lake Kamnarok National Reserve, Bomet County - The South Western Mau National Reserve, Busia County - Malaba Sanctuary, Elgeyo Marakwet County - Rimoi National Reserve, Embu County - Mount Kenya National Park; Irangi Forest Station, Mwea National Reserve, Garissa County - Bour-Algi Giraffe Sanctuary, Rahole National Reserve, Arawale National Reserve, Boni National Reserve, Homa Bay County - Ruma National Park, Isiolo County - The Bisanadi National Reserve, Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Shaba National Reserve, Kajiado County - Amboseli National Park, Kakamega County - Kakamega National Reserve, Kilifi County - Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve, Watamu Marine National Park, Malindi Marine Reserve, Kisumu County - Kisumu Impala Sanctuary, Ndere Island National Park, Kitui County - Mwingi National Reserve, South Kitui National Reserve, Kwale County - Shimba Hills National Reserve, Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve, Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park & Reserve, Lamu County - Dodori National Reserve, Kiunga Marine National Reserve, Machakos County - Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, Makueni County - Chyulu Hills National Park, Ngai Ndethya National Reserve, Mandera County - Malka Mari National Park, Marsabit County - Losai National Reserve, South Island National Park, Marsabit National Park & Reserve, Sibiloi National Park, Meru County - Meru National Park, Mombasa County - Mombasa Marine National Reserve & Park, Nairobi County - The Nairobi National Park, Nakuru County - Mount Longonot National Park, Crescent Island Sanctuary, Hell's Gate National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Nandi County - Bonjoge National Reserve, Narok County - Masai Mara National Reserve, Nyeri County - The Aberdare National Park, Samburu County - Samburu National Reserve, Maralal National Reserve, Siaya County - Lake Kanyaboli Reserve, Tana River County - Kora National Park, The Tana Primate National Reserve, Taita Taveta County - Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Tharaka Nithi County - Mutejwa National Reserve, Trans Nzoia County - Mount Elgon National Park, Saiwa Swamp National Park, Turkana County - Central Island Reserve, South Turkana Reserve, West Pokot County - Nasolot National Reserve
outlook
Tana River County is a rewarding destination for travelers interested in exploring off-the-beaten-path locations in Kenya. River Tana is the longest river in Kenya, flowing through the county and offering opportunities for riverine activities such as boat cruises, fishing, and birdwatching. Tana River County is home to the Orma and Pokomo ethnic groups, each with rich cultural traditions, music, and dances.
You Are Here: Kora National Park
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Explore Destinations Nearby Kora National Park
A Guide to Tana River County
A Summa Digest of Tana River
About Tana River Way Back When
28 Destinations in Tana River County, arranged as one would visit these - north to south - with the aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Ngao Neukirchen Church, Lake Shakababo, Delta Dunes Lodge, Ozi Conservation Area, Tana River Lodge, Old Town Kipini, Ungwana Bay Ruins, Shaka Ruins, Mwana Ruins, Fumo Liyongo Shrine, Kipini Conservancy, Red Cliff Camp, River Tana Delta, Tana Delta Colonial Forts, Tana Delta Cultural Centre, Tana Primate National Reserve, Mchelelo Bandas, Ndera Conservancy, Mau Mau Hola Monument, Hola Methodist Church, Bura St. Jude, Bura Irrigation Scheme, Bura East Conservancy, Arawale National Reserve, George Adamson's Grave, Kora National Park, Adamson's Fall, Tana River Bridge
Know More About Tana River County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Tana River County has a hot and dry climate with average annual temperatures of 30oC; the highest,41oC, is in January-March and the lowest being 20o C in June-July. Rainfall is low, bi-modal, and erratic.
The land generally sloping eastward, Tana River is all undulating plain that is only interrupted in a few places by low hills – at Bilibil and Bura.